Path

JHACAL stands for "Just Having a Crack at Life" - a personal reminder to make the most of life for myself and those I care about.

This suite of AAC tools was born from a very personal journey. Someone I know is afflicted with PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy). As her speech began to decline, I created Pro-Speak to help her practice enunciation, firing as many voice neurons as possible to retain her speaking voice for as long as possible.

When her ability to speak diminished further, Speak-Easy was created and became support her communication needs. As physical dexterity was lost, new tools followed - each designed to keep communication alive.

She used Path just before Christmas 2025, explaining she was cold and wanted a blanket. In early 2026 a simple request for a cup of tea, followed by a request for 18 glasses of water, knowing she hates plain water, I watched her struggle with her vision and dexterity, so Path was born, - a more touch-sensitive and visually appealing tool offering more than 250 statements in a simple path format.

With the library of additional Paths you have access to more than 3,000 statements and tools to edit or create your own.

Your-Voice was bult to capture and preserve a person's unique voice before it's gone, the next step to use the recordings together with AI to clone and incorporate your voice in JHACAL's tools. Looking back, I wish I had begun earlier. Whilst too late for some, it's not too late for Neil, a business colleage and friend struck down with MND, I trust these tools help you Neil.

That's what JHACAL means to me: just having a crack at life, and in turn giving someone else the chance to do the same.

Love you Mum. - Pete

JHACAL, which stands for "Just Having A Crack At Life", exists to give people their voice back when illness or injury tries to take it away.

Communication is fundamental to human dignity. When progressive neurological conditions like PSP, ALS, Parkinson's or aphasia from any cause, affect someone's ability to speak, they don't lose their thoughts, feelings, or need to connect-they just lose the mechanism.

Traditional AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tools can sometimes feel overly clinical, complex, or appear as if designed for children. Adults who've lived full lives deserve tools that respect their intelligence and experience while being simple enough to use when dexterity and vision are compromised. Children need tools designed specifically for them, not merely appearing as if they do.

Path is built on these principles:

• Dignity first: Adult-focused design that doesn't infantilize
• Simplicity: Large, touch-friendly tiles that work even with tremors or limited vision
• Voice preservation: Tools to capture someone's actual voice before it's gone and integrate it
• Flexibility: Customize everything-from phrases to pronunciation to new conversations

This isn't about replacing speech therapy or medical care. It's about filling the gaps-giving someone a way to say "I'm cold", when it feels warm to others, or a child hearing her mother say "I love you, you make me proud", even though her mother's voice left years ago. When a voice won't cooperate anymore, - build a Path.

Everyone deserves to be heard. That's why JHACAL exists.